Machine for bending wood



UNITED STATES lhATElTTr OFFICE.

CHARLES F. BEVERLY, OF LANCASTER, OHIO.

MACHINE FOR BENDING WOOD.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 18,379, dated October 13, 1857.

To all 'whom it may concern.:

Be it known that I, C. F. BEVERLY, of Lancaster, in the county of Fairfield and State of Ohio, have invented a new and Improved Machine for Bending IVood in Circular Form for the Fellies of Wheels and Analogous Purposes; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, in which-d Figure l, is a front view of my improvement. Fig. 2, is a transverse vertical section of ditto, taken in the line (fr), Fig. 1.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the two figures.

My invention consists in the employment or use of a stationary mold in connection with radial bending arms so arranged and.

operated that the stuit is bent from the center outward, the arms moving simultaneously in opposite directions from the center of the stuff and Vbending the stuff so that it will conform to and tit snugly the periphery of the mold.

My invention also consists in a peculiar arrangement of means whereby the stuit l may be readily adjusted to the machine.

T o enable those skilled in the art to fully understand and construct my invention I will proceed to describe it.

A represents a base on which two uprights B, B, are placed, the uprights being con* nected at their upper ends by a crosstie C. These parts form a frame and it may be constructed of either wood or metal.

D represents a vertical bar, the lower end of which is attached to the base A and the upper end to the cross tie C, and E is a block which is permanently secured to said bar D.

F is a mold of semi-circular form, as shown clearly in Fig. l. This mold is permanently attached to the block E by means of a screw bolt (a) as shown clearly in Fig. 2.

G, G, are two arms, the inner or upper ends of which are pivoted or work on a pin (b) which passes through a block I-I, said block having its lower end iitted in the upper end of the block E, and the upper end litted under or behind a bar (c) attached to the cross tie, and into a recess in said tic, the block I-I, being allowed a certain degree of vertical play. The upper end of the block I-I has the inner end of a lever (el) fitted in it. The ulcrum of this lever is at (e) and its outer end is attached by a pin to a vertical rod I, the lower end of which is pivoted to a lever J, having its ulcru-m at (f). A vertical rack K is attached to the `base A against either of whose teeth the front end of the lever J, may catch.

L is a lever which passes through a slot (g) in the bar D as also does the lever J. To the front end of the lever L a metallic strap M is attached at its center, said strap being suiiciently long to extend fully around the mold F.

N, N, are two segment metal bars which are attached to the cross t-ie C, and bar D and serves as guides to the arms G, G, the arms being between the mold and segment bars. To the outer end of each arm G there is attached an adjustable block or head (h) in which a roller O, is tted, and the outer end of each arm has a cord or chain att-ached to it, the upper ends of which are attached to a windlass or horizontal shaft P provided at one end with a crank Q, said shaft having its bearings (j) attached to the cross-tie O.

The periphery of the mold F, has a flanch (7c) attached to it, said lanch projecting from the inner side of the mold and at right angle with its face or periphery. It is designed that the block H, and its arms G, G, shall be sufficiently heavy to fall and be kept at their lowest point by their own gravity when not otherwise acted upon, and it is also designed that the arms G, G, shall tali or descend by their own gravity to a vertical position when not otherwise acted upon. Each side of the block E is grooved vertically to receive the arms, so that they may in connection with their curved form be allowed to assume a vertical position.

The stuff R to be bent is previously steamed and the arms G, G, being depressed sufficient room is allowed between the periphery of the mold and the Vrollers O, O, and str ap M, to allow the stuit to be readily inserted between them, the ends of the stuff resting on plates (l) provided with stops (m) which serve as guides and enable the operator to place the center of the stuff directly under the center of the mold, and also in the same plane with the mold, it being understood that the stuit is got out of the proper length. When the stuft is adjusted upon the strap M, the front end of the lever J, is depressed by the foot of the operator and the front end of lever L ascends and clamps the stuff at its center firmly against the mold F. The crank Q, is then turned and the outer ends of the arms G, G, are moved simultaneously in opposite directions, the rollers O bearing against the stuit and bending or pressing it against the periphery of the mold. When the arms G, G, reach a hori zontal position they are arrested by stops (n) attached to the tie C, and t-he ends of the stuff7 are then clamped, the stuff removed from the mold and a new piece adjusted upon the strap, the arms as before stated descending by their own gravity.

The stuff in consequence of being operated upon from the center outward is bent with but little power and the work may be done rapidly and Well.

I would remark that the windlass or shaft P arranged as shown is a simple means of elevating the arms G and will be probably used although other devices may be employed. I would also remark that the mold F, and the operating parts intimately con nected with it may be easily varied as regards size.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The stationary mold F and arms Gr, G, arranged and operated as shown or in an equivalent way for t-he purpose of bending the stuff R from its center outward or toward its ends as described.

2. I 'further claim attaching the arms G, G, to an adjustable block H, operating in connection with the lever L as shown for the purpose of allowing the stu to be readily inserted or adjusted between the mold F 'and strap M as described, and also for properly holding the stuff to the mold while the stuff is being acted upon by the rollers of the arms Gr, G-

CHARLES F. BEVERLY.

Witnesses Mier-r. HUGHES, J. L. BUCKLEY. 

